Guard for combing machines for combing textile fibers



Aprii 10, 1945. D. PIERREPONT 2,373,411

GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS 4 Filed May 8} 1945 ll Sheets-Sheet l D. PIERREPONT April 10, 1945.

GUARD FOR GOMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorneys p 1945. D. PIERREPONT 4 2,373,411

GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 11 Shegats-Sheet s Inventor v rh-LLQ.'. t

y (P wl 4w. 2

Allorneys April 1945. D. PIERREPONT 1 GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I Inventor 80.1.1.1 1;

' ltorneys April 10, 1945.

D. -PIERREPONT GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 194a 11. Sheets-Sheet s Inventor M MSW Attorneys April .10, 1 945 D. PIERREPONT GUARD FOR 'COMBING MACHINES FOR v COMBINGTEXTILE FIBERS Filed" May 8, .1943 ll Sheets-Sheet- 7 i V, M

Inventor By QM? 5 y e n r O U A April 10, 1945. D. PIERREPONT 2,373,411

GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 ll Shee ts-Sheet 8 L mm l Attorneys April 1945. D. PIERREPONT I 2,373,411

GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 A ttorney 5 April 10, 1945. D. PIERREPONT I 2,373,411

GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 1o April 10, 1945. v D. PIERREPONT 2,373,411

GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Filed May 8, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Apr. 10, 1945 GUARD FOR COMBING MACHINES FOR COMBING TEXTILE FIBERS Donald Pierrepont, Chadderton, Oldham,

England Application May 8, 1943, Serial No. 486,147

In Great Britain April 18, 1942 9 Claims.

This invention relates to guards for combing machines for combing textile fibers and has for its primary object the provision of a guard which afiords the maximum protection of moving parts of the machine and reduces to a minimum the possibility of injury to an operative who may attempt to tamper with the machine whilst it is in motion. A further object is to minimise risk of damage to the machine caused by the machine being set in motion when a part, or parts, of the working mechanism is, or are, out of operative position.

It is well known that in the working of a combing machine operatives are prone to tamper with the machine while it is in motion, and in so doing are liable to get their hands caught in the machinery, or-to cause damage to the machine through insertion of a picker, key, or other instrument into the mechanism.

The invention contemplates the provision of a guard which covers substantially all the moving mechanism at the front of a combing machine, that is mechanism located within a field of operation between the creel uprights and the sliver table, is locked in closed position when the machine is in motion and cannot be opened until the machine is stopped or about to be stopped, and which, when open, prevents the machine from being set in motion, motion of the machine being possible only when all the elements of the mechanism are in correct working position and the guard is restored to closed position.

The invention consists in a guard device which may be in one piece or in articulated sections, adapted to cover the whole of the front of the combing machine, extending from the creel uprights to the front sliver table, thereby encasing moving parts such as detaching-rollers, detaching-roller weighting hooks, detaching-roller rocking-motions, top comb, needled cylinder, and calender rollers on the sliver table, said guard device incorporating balancing means to facilitate the raising and lowering of the guard by an operative, locking means, and preferably also means permitting usual inspection of the working of the machine, for example} to see that the fibers are being correctly combed or to see when roller laps or other faults occur.' The guard is arranged to co-operate with means for preventing the suction-boxlids at the rear of the machine from being opened Whilethe machine is in motion, and, if the suction-box lids are open, to prevent the machine from being set in motion-until all the said lids are restored. to their closed position.

The guard preferably comprises a row of sec.

tions of which each section serves to cover at least one delivery head of the machine, the sections at the ends of the row being each provided with an end plate and intermediate sections being interchangeable.

Some embodiments of the invention willnow be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which only so much of a combing machine is illustrated as is necessary for a clear. understanding of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the gearing end of a combing'machine showing a guard in the closed or covering position on the front sliver table; Fig. 2 is afragmentary perspective view drawn to 'a larger scale of the guard in its open or raised position; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, drawn to a still larger scale, of a means for retaining the guard in raised position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the guard in fulllines in its closed position and in broken linesin its raised position and also showing additional means for retaining the guard in itsraised position against accidental displacement; parts of the combing machine mechanism later to be referred to are also shown. M Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view-looking at the inside of the guard and showing how the guard is prevented from closing when the detaching. roller Weighting is in the off position and also showing means for locking the guard when itis fully closed. Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary plan and side views, respectively, drawn to a larger scale, of parts of the locking means shown in Fig. 5 in the position occupied when the guard is open. Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views showing theparts in the position occupied when the guard is locked. Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the guard in closed position, also showing, more or less diagrammatically, some of the parts of the combing machine enclosed by the guard. Fig. 11 is a plan of Fig. 10 and shows one construction of guard according to the invention. Figs. 12 and 13 are similar views to Figs, 10 and 11 but showing a modified construction of guard. Figs. 14 and 15 are also similar views to Figs. 10 and 11 but showing a further modified construction of guard. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side view, drawn to a larger scale, of a modified form of the brake mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and later to be described; Fig. 1'7 is a front view of the brake'mechanism shown in Fig. 16 with parts in the position occupied when the machine is stopped or the brake is on; Fig. 18 is a similar view to Fig. 17 with parts in the position occupied when the machine is running and the brake is off; Fig. 19 is a similar view to Fig. 17 with the parts in the position occupied when the machine isstopped and the brake has been released by hand; Fig. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the guard raised and prevented from being lowered because of the top comb of the combing machine being out of operative position; Fig. .21 isa fragmentary perspective rear view of the gearing end of a combing machine showing locking means for preventing the opening of the suction-box lids when the combing machine is working; Fig. 22 is a similar view showing a modified form of the locking means shown in Fig. 21. Figs. 23 and 24 are with a resilient pad indicated at 4 I, Fig. 2, which also ensures a close fit of the cover on the table.

To guard against accidental displacement of the cover 21 when in the raised position, a catch is provided to lock the cover automatically as it reaches full open position. Such a catch is illustrated in Fig. 4 and consists of a, two-armed trigger 42 pivoted in the bracket 40, one arm of said trigger being adapted to slide over and engage a projection 35a on the bracket 36, see dotted lines in Fig. 4, while the other arm is adapted to serve as a handle by means of which the trigger may be manually tripped to release the cover.

a detail part of the mechanism shown 'in Fig. 22

in alternative positions of use; Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view, also drawn to alarger-scale, Of a further detail part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 22.

y The same reference characters indicate corresponding partsinthe'several figures of the drawmgs. t

Referring to Fig.1,iwhich shows in perspective the gearing end of a Nasmith combing machine, l indicates the frame of the machine, ll one of the creel uprights,- l2the-creel, l3 the front sliver table, 14 the setting-on rod withit operating handle l5; IB the gear box; 11 the driving shaft;

IS a bearing bracket-carried by the stand 1-9 supporting the gearbox 16; 20, 21 the fast and loose pulleys; respectively; 22 the driving belt;'"2'3 the flywheel; 24 thebelt shifter, to which the setting-' on rod I4 isbperatively connected by'a linkage 25; and'26 the'top front calender roller, all of known construction. 21 is a guard section, herematter-referred toias a'cover, adapted to cover the moving parts of one head of a-combing ma chine, said cover being preferably constructed of sheet metal andco'nfonning approximately to .the contour of the combing machine. The cover 21 extends from the creel uprights H to the front sliver table IS on which it restsat' its lower front edge when in the closed position as shown in Fig.

1. The cover 21 is formed with a sloping top and is provided {with a. transparent window 28 and with two box lilre extensions.

The jrnainbody of the cover21 is adapted to encasethe needled" cylinder 30; feed rollers 3i; nippers as 32," top comb 3'3, detaching rollers 34 and detaching roller weighting mechanism 35, while the box like e'xtensions 29 are adapted to encase the nipper weighting'inechanism, see Fig.

10. The front or .the'cover 21 is cut away at 21a.

to allow the .cover to .fit over the top calender roller*26 and to "allow the .operator to obtain limited access to the top calender roller.

Referring to *Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the cover 21 is hingedly connecteclatits upper end on opposite sides to brackets 'attaohedto the creel uprights I I. One of saidabrackets 36 is shown in Fig. 2 and has fixed thereina hinge pin 31 upon which is threadeda torsion spring38 having one end secured'in a collar 39 fast on the, hinge pin 31, the other endb'eing securedin the boss of a bracket 40 secured to the. inside ofthe; cover 21, see particularly Figs. v2 and 3. A corresponding hinge connection isprovided' atthe opposite side of the cover-2;1. When thescover. is lowered, the respective torsionsprings 38 are wound up, thus balancing the weight ofu the' cover and facilitating the raising of said cover. by the operative.

To minimise noise and jar when the cover 21 is lowered onteythe front'sliver' table k3,,thelower front edge of the cover may, be provided To enable the cover 21 to be locked in its closed position there is provided on the front sliver table a locking box 43, see Fig. 5, housing a spring-urged detent-.44 adapted to lie in the path of movement of a locking arm 45 fast on the setting-on rod [4 of the machine. The locking arm 45 projects beneath the front sliver table I3 towardsthe interior of the machine to a point inside the cover, when the'latte'r is in closed position on the front sliver table, and is there bent at right-angles to provide a bolt portion 45a adapted to project through the walls of the locking box 43 and formed with a notch 45b into which the springurged detent 44 projects when the cover 21 is raised, see Figs. 6' and 7 whereby endwise movement of the setting-on rod M to start the machine is prevented.

Secured to the inside of the cover 21, in correspondingly opposite position to the detent 44, is a bracket'formed with a hook-ended projection or finger 46. When the cover 21 is lowered, the finger 46 abuts against and'presses back the spring-. urged detent 44, see Figs. 8 and 9, whereupon the setting-on rod l4 may be moved in known manner to start the machine. This movement of the setting-on rod l4 causes the locking-bolt 45a to engage with the finger 45,, see Figs 8 and 9, wherebyto lockthe cover 21 in position. When the setting-on rod I4 is moved in the reverse direction in stopping the machine, the locking bolt 45a is withdrawn from engagement with the finger 4B, whereupon, when the cover 21 is raised, the finger is moved away from the springurged detent 44 in the locking box 43 and permits said detent to be advanced by the. spring into initial positionin the path of thelocking bolt 45a, see Figs. 6 and 7, thus preventing endwise movement of the setting-on rod i 4 to put the machine in motion.

The cover 21 cannot be closed when the detaching rollers are unweighted, as the bottom edge of said cover would foul the Weighting-levers 35, see Fig, 5, in which the weighting-levers 35 are shown in the unweighted position, thus preventing further movement of said cover.

Should an attempt be made to close the cover 21,,when the detaching rollers 34 are unweighted, by edging said cover past the weightinglevers 35, cam-forming blocks 41 .secured to the inner surface of the cover are adapted to abut against and move the weighting levers 35, whereby weighting of the detaching-roller 34 1s automatically effected. There is a, cam-block 41 for co-operatio with each weighting-lever 35, see Fig. 5.

To prevent closing of the cover 21 when the top comb 33 is raised out of working position, a projection 48 may be provided on the underside ofv the cover 21, so positioned that, if attempt be made to close the cover 21 the top'comb 33 out of working position, the said projection would come into' contact with the in proper working position, it is any downward movement of the cover 21, see

Figure 20. Therefore; until the top comb -33 is to close the cover 21. v

' If for any reason the weight has been taken' ofi the'nippers While they cover is raised, subsequent closing of the cover while the nippers are unweighted is prevented. Prevention of closing maybe accomplished by the provision of lateral projections on the nipper-weighting release-catches which are arranged at opposite sides of the head, said projections being directed inwardly towards each other and adapted, when the cover is raised and the nipper-weighting release-catches are in the raised position with the weight oif the nippers, to lie in the path of movement of the cover whereby to prevent said cover from being lowered until the Weighting has been restored tothe nippers.

A preferred arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 2 illustrates nipper weighting and release mechanism of known construction, the weighting being applied to the nippers 32 by means of tension springs, one of which is shown at 50 in Figs. 2 and' 0, the tension being applied to the spring by means of a handle pivotally mounted in a bracket 52 carried bythe machine frame and in operative connection with the nippers 32 by means of a linkage 53, said handle being held in operative positionby a pawl 54 engaging in a notch 52a in'th'e bracket 52, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, and more particularly in full lines in Fig. 4. There is a corresponding mechanism posite side of the head.

When the cover is raised and it is desired to release the pressure on the nippers 32, the handle 5l,.and its opposite number, are simultaneously rocked about their respective pivots to free the pawls 5t and allowed to assume the position shown in chain-dotted lines in Fig. 4. If attempt be made to close the cover 2! while the nippers 32 are still unweighted, a projection 55 on the underside of the. cover 27, see Fig. 4-, abuts against the handle 5! and 'prevents further downward movement of the cover. There is a corresponding projection on the opposite side of the cover. It will therefore be understood that, whilethe nippers 32 remain unweighted, it is impossible to close the cover 21.

In'or'der to ensure that the cover 27 cannot be raised until the machine is more or less at a standstill, there are provided means, co-operative with the setting-on rod l4, so arranged that, as the setting-on rod 14 is moved in the direction to stop the machine, as by transferring the belt 22 from thefast pulley 29 to the loose pulley 2!, a brake is applied to the flywheel 23, whereby quickly to decelerate the machine, so that, if attempt be made to raise the cover 21 instantly on operation of the belt-shifter 24, by the time the cover is raised the machine will be at a standstill;

One embodiment of mechanism, for eifecting this braking action is illustrated in Fig. 1, in which 56 indicates a brake-block havinga friction lining of suitable material. Said brakeblock is pivotally mounted on the bracket I8 forming a bearing for the pulley shaft I! in close proximity to the underside of the flywheel 23. The brake-block 56 is normally urged towards the flywheel 23 by a tension spring 51 anchored at one end to an extension 58 of the brake-block and at the other end to the stand I 9.

not possible at the op- At theopposite side of the brake-block 56 to the extension 58 is a projecting arm 59 lying alongside abracket'tfl secured-to the bearing bracket l8. The outer end only of said arm is shown in Fig. 1', but it is to be understood that said arm isidentical with the arm 59 shown clearly in Fig. 16. The bracket 60 is formed with a slot 6| adapted for penetration by a bolt 62 pivotally attached to a lever 63 fast on the rocker-shaft'fid of'the' belt-shifter 24. The lower face of the bolt 6'2is inclined adjacent to its free end so that in effect the bolt embodies a cam face adapted t'o co-operate with the upper face of the projecting arm 59. The rocker-shaft 64 is in operative'connection with the setting-on rod l4 through the linkage 25..

When the machine is started, endwise movement of the setting-on rodl l, in the direction of the arrow A, causes the rocker-shaft 64 to rock about itsbearings to move the belt-shifter 24 and transfer the belt 22 from the loose pulley 2! to the fast pulley 20, whereupon the bolt 62 is caused to'slide through the slot 6| in the bracket 80 and by its inclined lower face to bear against and depress the arm 59 to move-the spring-influence'cl brakeblock 56* out of contact with the flywheel 23,thus releasing "the brake.

When the machine is to be stopped, endwise movement of thesetting-on'rod-l l in a reverse direction, as indicated-by the arrow B, to move the belt 22 from the fast pulley Zll to the loose pulley 2 I, causes the rocker-shaft Mto be turned about its axis in the reverse direction, thereby moving the bolt 62 back to initial position, whereupon the spring-influencedbrake-block 56 is caused to bear on the surface of the flywheel and to bring themachine to a practically instantaneous standstill. i

An alternative and. preferred form of brakemechanism'is illustrated in Figs. l6, 17, 18 and 19. Partsof the brake mechanism described with reference to Fig. 1 are designated by the same reference characters with the addition of the distinguishing exponent I Referring to Figs-16,17, 18 and 19, the brakeblock 56' is pivotallyinounted ona stud 65 secured in the bracket 60' by a set-screw B8. The bracket, Bil is secured to the bearer bracket l8 by bolts 61 and is formed adjacent to the. end remote from the pivot 65 with a slot SI for penetration by a bolt 62 pi'votally mounted on an arm 63 fast on the rocker-shaft B4. The bracket 60 is formed at the slotted end with a depending cylindrical boss 68 that houses a com pression spring 69 adapted to exert pressure against the projecting arm '59 of the brakeblock "56', whereby normally to urge the brake block 56' into contact with the surface of the flywheel 23', see Fi 16: The stress of the spring 69 is adapted to be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 10 retained in its position of ad justment in the bottom 88 by a lock-nut 'l I.

Whenthe machine is started, endwise moveof the cylindrical boss ment of the setting-on rod I 4, as before described.

to move the belt 22 from the loose pulley 2| to the fast pulley 20 causes the bolt 62' to slide through the slot 6|'- and to bear with its inclined facev 62 against the projecting arm 59' which,

in the embodiment shown, is guided in a slot 60" in the bracket 60' penetrating an extension 60 of said bracket, the slot 6W- being disposed at right angles to the slot 6|, the depression of the arm 59- rocking the-brake-block 56" about its pivot '65 to move the brake-block 56' out of conta'ctiwith the-flywheel 85?,- thus releasing th brake, see;Fig. -15. :lvlevement or the'settine-on rod Min the reversedireetien to step bemechine causes the bolt 62' to be moved to initial-p si-' tion. see Fiaall. whereupon the brake-block 56' is causedto bear on the surface of the flywheel 23' to arrest the flywheel 2.3 and .to bring the machine toastandstill. I

To allow turning movement of the machine by hand when desire'd,.an eccentric 12 is pivoted at 13in the extension 60 and is furnished with a projecting. arm or finger 14 whereby the eccentric 1,2 maybe turned about itspivot 13 to press on.the arm 59' and release the brake, see Fig. 19. Movement of the. belts-shifter :to start the ma. chine automatically returns'the eccentric 12 to initial position. i

One embodiment of the means provided-to Dre-' vent-the opening of the suction-box lids at therear of the machine while the machine is in motion, and to prevent restarting of the machine until the suction-box lids are properly closed, is illustrated in Fig. 21. Referring to Fig. 2.1, 15 is .a slide-rod extending lengthwise of the machine and slidable in bearing brackets 16 attached to the rear of the machine frame Ill. The rod 15 i connected at one end to-a lever 11 fast on the rocker-shaft 64 of the belteshifter.

Threaded on the rod 15 area. number ofprojecting-arms, one ofwhich is shown at'18. An

arm 18 isfixed to, the rod 15 adjacent to each of the suction-box lids-of the respective delivery.

heads of the machines 19 indicates one of said suction-box lidsand Shasixction-box. Thedisposition ofthe projecting arm 18 is such that, when the machine is-in motion, an arm 18 projects into the path of movement'of the respective suction-box lid 19, see Fig. 21, the free extremity of the arm '18 being then so closely adjacent to the lid 19 that it is impossible to raise said lid sufiiciently to obtain even limited access to the suction-b01180. M

I When the setting-on rod I4 is moved in a direction to stop the machine, 1 .e., in the direction indicated bythe arrow Blin'Fig. 1, the rod 15 is correspondingly moved through the medium of the lever 11 on the rocker-shaft 64, and the projecting arms 18 are moved out of the path of movement of the suction-box lids N, which may then be opened. '1

The ultimate position of the: projecting arm 18 shown in Fig. 21 is shown in chain-dotted lines in that figure. The position of the arms I8 relatiVely to the suction-#box lids I9 is suchthat not and prevent. endwise movement of the. rod and starting of the machine.

An alternative and preferred form of'means for preventing the opening of the suction-box lids while the machine is in motion, and preventing'restarting of the machine until the suctionbox lids are properly closed. is shown in Figs.

22, 23, 24 and 25. Part in these figures corresponding to parts in Fig. 21 are indicated by corresponding reference characters distinguished by the exponent i permit o t n n movement of the od .15 in addition to endwise movement. .This connection comprises a socket pivotall'y-connected to the lever- T! of the rocker-shaft B4. The adjacent end of the rod15 fits into a socket part 82 and is formedwith an annular recess 15" into which projects the'endof a set-screw 83 screw-threaded into the socket 8 l, whereby the rod I5 is secured in the socket against withdrawal while permitting turning movement of therod 15 relative-to the socket BL i A torsion spring 84 threaded on the rod 15' is anchored at one end in the socket BI and at the her a d in 2.001 3 v8 secu d by a grub-screw 8B- cn.-the -rod 15", see Fig. 25. The collar 85 is adapted to be tu ned relatively to the rod 15' to regulate the torsion of the spring 84. At least one of the brackets 16' is formed with a key-way 81, and a key 88 in the rod 15' is adapted, in one position of use, to register with, and be engageable in, said key-way, see Fig. 23.

The arms '18 are so arranged that each arm is approximately in mid-position of the suctionbox lid 19' with which it co-acts when said lid is closed, the free end of each locking arm 18' being closely adjacent to the respective suction-box lid:

-. Assumingthe' combing machine to be workin and the suction box lids 19' to be looked, as in Fig. 22, the rod 15- is restrained against rotation by the key Bit-engaging in the key-way 81 in the bracket 16', see Fig. 23, and, therefore, with the endsof the locking arms 18' in close proximity to the suction-box lids 19', unauthorized opening of asuction-box lid is effectually prevented.

When thebelt-shifter is moved from the fast to the loose pulley position to stop the machine, the rod is moved endwise and the key 88 is slid out of the key-way-fll, see Fig.- 24, leaving the rod i5 free to be turned. An operator desiring to raise a suction-box lid raises one of the lockin arms 18 and'rocks the rod 15' about its axis, thus moving the key 88 out of register with the key-way 81', and the suction-box lid is then free to be opened. If attempt be made to restart the combing Y machine while a suction-box lid remains open, the key 88 onthe rod 15 being out of register with the key-way 8"! inthe bracket '16" and abuttingagainst said bracket would pre-- vent endwise movement of the'rod T5 andtherefore make it impossible to move thebelt-shifter to restart the machine. I

With all the suction-box lids l9 closed the locking arms are returned to the locking position by the turning movement of the rod 15 and the key 88 is again brought into register with the keyway 81 so that the rod 15' is free to be moved endwise by the belt-shifter in starting the machine, the key 88 again entering the key-way 81' and locking the arms'IB. I

To ensure that the key 88 shall correctly reg ister with the key-way 61 in the return move ment ofthe rod 15', there is formed on the bracket 16' a rabbet 16" against which the key 88 comes into contact in the reverse movement of the rod 15', see Fig. 24. 4 I;

It will be seen that unauthorized opening of. a suction-box lid while the combing machine is in motion is efiec'tually prevented, and also that, after the combing machine has been stopped, and a suction-box lid has been opened, it is impossible to restart the combing machine while a lid remains open, I

A modified form of cover is shown in Figs. 12

and 13 in which the cover 21 is provided with a in Fig. 12.

When so turned down the flap 28a, while permitting access to be obtained to the front sliver tin indicated at 89, also erves as a guard to keep the fingers of the operative from contact with moving parts of the machine.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 14 and 15 in which the cover 21 is formed with a recessed part 21d which permits unrestricted access to the front sliver tin B9 and to the front calender rollers 26. The rear of the recess is closed by a wall 216.

The transparent window 28 in the cover 21 permits unrestricted visual inspection of the working of the delivery head.

It will be seen that with the use of a guard constructed as described the risk of injury to an operative by contact with moving parts of the machine is reduced to a minimum. Risk of damage to the machine caused through setting the machine in motion while any of the working parts are out of proper position is also reduced to a minimum.

Guard devices constructed according to the invention afiord maximum protection to the operative and to the machine without impairing the working efiiciency of the machine.

The described guard devices may be applied to existing machines without structural alteration or with a minimum of alteration, as full use is made of existing parts to obtain the desired effects of the guard.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combing machine for combing textile fibers including a frame, creel uprights extending above said frame, a front sliver table, and mechanism located within a field of operation at the front of the machine, between said uprights and said sliver table, the combination of movable guard means adapted when in a lower position to encase substantially all of said mechanism and when raised to an upper position to expose said mechanism, means for starting and stopping the machine, means effective to prevent said guard mean from being raised to upper position until said last named means is moved to machine-stopping position, means effective to prevent said guard means from being lowered to lower position unless said mechanism is in correct working position, means to prevent starting of the machine when said guard means is in its upper position, suction boxes at the back of the machine, said suction boxes having lids, and means interlocked with said starting and stopping means for preventing said lids from being opened while the machine is in operation, and for preventing the machine from being started while a lid is open.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the guard means is mounted on at least one hinge pin embraced by a torsion spring serving to balance the weight of the guard means.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the guard means is mounted on at least one hinge pin embraced by a torsion spring of which one end is anchored to a hinge bracket, and in which a safety catch engageable by the hinge bracket 4. The combination claimed in claim 1 including a setting-on rod movable to start and stop the machine, a locking box on the front sliver table, a spring-urged detent housed in said box and adapted normally to lie in the path of a locking arm fast on the setting-on rod and projecting beneath the table to a point enclosed by the guard means when the guard means is in its lower position, said detent being engageable with said arm in the upper position of the guard means, and a bracket secured to the inner side of the guard means and formed with a finger adapted to disengage the detent from said arm when the guard means is lowered, said arm engaging said linger on the movement of the setting-on rod to start the machine whereby to lock the guard means in lower position.

5. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the bottom edge of the guard means is arranged to foul the weighting lever for the detaching rollers of the machine when said rollers have been unweighted, and in which the guard means is provided with a cam-forming block adapted to abut against and move the weighting lever to effect automatic weighting of the rollers.

6. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which a projection is so positioned on'the underside of the guard means as to engage a part carrying the top comb of the machine if the top comb should have been raised out of its working position when the guard means has been in its upper position. a

7. The combination claimed in claim 1 including projections arranged at opposite sides of the guard means and adapted, when the guard means is in its upper position and nipper-weighting release catches are in raised position, to abut against a handle in operative connection with the nippers' and prevent the guard means from being lowered until weighting has been restored to the nippers.

8. The combination claimed in claim 1 including a machine-operating shaft carrying a flywheel, a brake-block engageable with said flywheel, mean normally urging said brake-block towards said fly-wheel, a rocker-shaft, a settingon rod operable only when the guard means is in its lower position, a linkage between said settin .nected to said rocker shaft for preventing the suction box lids from being opened while said serves to retain the guard means against accidental displacement when in its upper position.

brake is freed and for preventing the freeing of said brake while a suction box lid is open.

9. The combination claimed in claim 1 including a slide-rod extending lengthwise of and at the rear of the machine, a pulley shaft for operating the machine and carrying fast and loose pulleys, a belt engageable with either of said pulleys, a belt-shifter for shifting the belt from one pulley to the other, a rocker-shaft for the belt-shifter, said rocker-shaft having an operative connection with said slide-rod, arms on said slide-rod, one adjacent to each suction box, and in interfering relation with the suction box lid, and means for operating the belt-shifter and thereby imparting sliding movements to said slide-rod.

DONALD PIERREPONT. 

